the president, president obama just talking with this middle class family in northern virginia. part of the push to preserve the middle class tax cut. here he is around the table in the washington area today. if the president and congress cannot reach a deal, tax rates for the middle class and everyone else goes up the first of the year. meanwhile, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell today prevented a simple majority vote to give the president the power to raise the u.s. debt ceiling. president obama pushed for the power trance fosform as part of white house plan they unveiled a week ago. fiscal cliff, 26 days away. christine romans explains how going over the cliff could affect you and your family. >> reporter: brooke, here's what the sequester could mean for domestic programs. fewer women and children with assistance and child care aid. cuts to education nearly 100,000 head start spots at risk. more than 25,000 teachers and teachers aids could lose their jobs and science and public research grants could be cut including in to cancer and childhood diseases. fewer americans c